Week Beginning 20th August 2017

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Note: These are simply quick thoughts that have been jotted down. They have been categorized as “Insignificant” for very good reasons. They may contain hunches which will be unsubstantiated, unqualified and unquantified. Some of these points (each separated into their own paragraphs) may or may not be spawned into more substantial posts.

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The commentators of Interest.co.nz again

Housing market is deflating?  I’d say given the behaviour of the market in recent years, I believe it’s a little bit too early to call.

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Global Liquidity feels bubbly.

There is a perhaps a concern with in me that if something of sufficient size does happen to impact the credit markets negatively to kick off some panic, the resultant domino effect is probably going to be unstoppable.

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NZ Clothing brands

I regularly see this on the many clothing labels…

DESIGNED IN NEW ZEALAND

Made in China

Additionally at the Agricultural Fieldays, there were a plethora of merchants that had signs out for exclaiming they had… “100% New Zealand Wool Jumpers”, with the word “made” conveniently omitted.

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Bushbuck Sales and Marketing Tactics

I get Bushbuck’s Email Newsletters now and again, I can’t remember why I signed up, it may have been to participate in some raffle at a Fieldays event at some point.

The stated recommended retail pricing (RRP) of their garments I feel appear to be the getting up there, almost the same price as what SWAZI Apparel sell their high quality, locally New Zealand Made equivalents for.  Seems From there, Bushbuck have Sales every now and again which heavily discount off of their RRP which is probably in my view, more discounting back to “normal price”.

May be Bushbuck gear is indeed quite good, However in truth, my image of their brand may have been impacted a little when they keyword stuffed their TradeMe auctions with the names of other outdoor gear brand.

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Auckland Traffic, specifically South east

Traffic Patterns seem to be different each day, it’s a guessing game as to which route is fastest out of Highbrook / East Tamaki.

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Stuffed full of Shopping mailers

A person purportedly by the name of Sandra Young had used the email address: Sandra [AT] young [dot] Kiwi to sign up to several Melbourne retailer mailing lists. As a result, the “Catch All” email address for young.kiwi has been filled up with adverts and promotional mailers.

 

Week Beginning 20th August 2017

Indonesian Trip

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Main highlights included Dukono (in North Maluku), Komodo, and Kelimutu. Running from about 29th July 2017 to 6th August 2017 on a rather packed schedule with about 12 different flights in total cris-crossing over the Eastern side of Indonesia.

View looking back down towards the campsite from near the crater of Gunung Dukono

Matt Davison’s Video of our Dukono Trip

Places stayed at (Will hyperlink these when I get over my Indonesian cold)…

  • Swiss-Bel Hotel Tuban
  • Julianna Hotel, Tobelo
  • A night in tents / bivvies on Gunung Dukono itself
  • Grand Dafam Hotel, Ternate
  • Sunset Hill Hotel, Labuan Bajo, Flores
  • Overnight on a boat anchored out at a bay with flying foxes.
  • Antoneri Lodge, Koanara, Kelimutu

Assorted Notes and observations… (Still to be filled out as of 2017-09-06)…

A large portion of the Indonesian private vehicle Fleet are Toyota “Avanza” and “Kijang” Multi-purpose vehicles. The older Kijang has a larger 2.0 litre motor with it’s smaller successor, the Avanza, having a smaller 1.5 litre motor.

The driving style over much of Indonesia is typical of many Asian national (except Singapore / Hong Kong) with a more aggressive driving style and which will often strike fear into Westerners who are not used to it.

The roads in the more remote parts of Indonesia that we visited where suprisingly good with many key routes sealed. Have to admit, was thinking the island of Halmahera to be mostly of gravel / dirt roads.

Everyone in the group took Anti-Malarials as we had entered into areas which were deemed as high risk.

Indonesian Trip

Waterview Tunnel Pre-opening Visit

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After landing back in Auckland, Embarked on the Waterview, Tunnel Walk, kindly hosted by the NZTA. Could walk about 900m in via the Northnound tunnel then crossing over to the southbound tunnel to walk back. (Though have to admit, was thinking we could walk straight through to the other end)

Waterview Tunnel Southern entrance

Beware, Fixed Speed cameras at each end and variable speed limit up to a Maximum of 80km/h.

Waterview Tunnel Pre-opening Visit

Are Chemtrails still a thing?

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I don’t know what it is, I didn’t realize “Chemtrails” (from commercial passenger jets) were still a wide spread concern. After checking my Facebook messages (as I do every few days), I let curiosity get the better of me and clicked on one of the seemingly random suggestions which Facebook often show on the side of their web interface, then came across this post. I have to admit, at first, I thought it was either a prank, joke or sarcasm and it took me awhile to sink in that some of the people were actually serious about the issue.

It was probably more the numbers of people whom were subscribing to the Chemtrail theory, and the resultant “group think” which threw me off the most (and led me to go find the nearest brick wall). After further casing the corridors of the face-borg cube, found that the Chemtrail thing was actually quite well subscribed to across the confined of the ‘borg cube and to a lesser extent, beyond into the wider general Internet.  I don’t what is driving it, is this the filter bubble / echo chamber thing that many critics of Facebook mention?

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External link(s)…

Are Chemtrails still a thing?

Grampians and Twelve Apostles Trip Notes

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23rd to 26th June 2017 – Post Work formalities Road trip to the Grampians and The !2 Apostles (Now really only 7) along the Great Ocean Road before flying back home to Auckland.

The site of the 12 Apostles

After the Software Technical symposium concluded on Friday Afternoon, grabbed a rental car and drove to Halls Gap next to the Grampians National Park, staying at Comfort Inn Halls Gap. Continue reading “Grampians and Twelve Apostles Trip Notes” →

Grampians and Twelve Apostles Trip Notes

Leisurely Whangarei Heads Weekend

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Return to the Whangarei area to catch up with a few friends. A short overnight walk to Peach Cove Hut via the shorter and direct Peach Cove Track, returning via Te Whara Track and staying up at the peak to take in the views of the Whangarei Area. Later on a short flat walk around Whangarei’s town basin. Pictures posted here.

View of the Whangarei Heads area from highest point on Te Whara Track.
Leisurely Whangarei Heads Weekend

Short Omanawanui Loop

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Short little Loop Walk Around Whatipu’s Omanawanui Track. (pictures posted to NUI.NZ)

Route Details as follows… (Best looked at in conjuction with a topo map)

From Whatipu Car park. Walked towards the beach, follow signs to Omanawanui Track and then a reasonably steep climb up to the first (lower) peak along Omanawanui Track, then a descent and a steep climb up to the second peak. We descend for a second time before meeting a gradual incline up to the junction of Whatipu Road. Cross the road.

After crossing the road, continue along track till the junction of Puriri Ridge track and Kura track. Turn left down Kura track which descends somewhat steeply then flattens out before the first stream crossing. There are 4 stream crossings in total.  From there, it is a relatively flat path (with a few fallen trees to climb over) back to Whatipu Road.

Once at Whatipu Road, cross over the Road bridge and you should be back at Whatipu Car Park.

Peering down the Whatipu Valley

Other notes

  • At Whatipu Car park, there are Two toilets and an information board.
  • Road to Whatipu (after Little Huia) is narrow, unsealed and very windy, take extra care driving around the corners as there is often plenty of traffic coming in the opposite direction
  • Fishery officers are sometimes seen in the area and along the Whatipu coast.
  • Time taken to do this track. About 3¾ hours at a leisurely pace with about an hour total stopping time (including Lunch, Afternoon Tea and a few short toilet / drink stops). If done at a moderate pace, with shorter stops, can do this in about 3-3¼ hours.
  • Distance about 6-7 km (if you exclude spur to ‘Wing Head’)
Short Omanawanui Loop

98 RON Petrol in a Toyota D4 Motor

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Updated: 25 July 2020 – Still no issues with the motor. Also fixed up some errors and typos in this post.

From the “Individual experience not matching conventional wisdom” files…

The NZ AA have expressed concerns surrounding the “D4” (including the 1AZ-FSE) or GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) motors on their publications due to issues of Potential carbon build up on the intake valves, potentially restricting the airflow to the engine as a result of the petrol being injected directly into the combustion chamber as opposed to washing over the intake valves as per normal port injected engines.  They also recommend running Toyota D4 motors  on the “Highest Octane possible”. Continue reading “98 RON Petrol in a Toyota D4 Motor” →

98 RON Petrol in a Toyota D4 Motor

Unethics

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Indeed, I personally knew the guy behind Ronovationz… but that was 10 or so years ago.  Please don’t go asking me about him and his recently exposed behaviour in the media.

In context, it looks like he pushed it a little bit too far over the edge, particularly considering given the climate of housing unaffordability issues which really are a political hot potato at the moment. (There is no two ways about it, Australasian property prices in the main centres are way out of line relative to things globally… being other real estate markets in the world, and relative to other economic factors)

The fact that “Every investor does it”, doesn’t make it right as such.

Unethics

Walk to Crosbie’s Hut

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29th April 2017 to 30th April 2017, Walk to Crosbie’s hut (in the Coromandels) via Tararu Track and back down via Te Puru Track. Pictures posted here

Group Photo at Crosbies Hut, Coromandel Ranges

With Glen Doughty, Carl Brett, Lina Zhou, Juliaty Jap, Helen Zhang and myself (I’m taking the picture above)

For me, due to the proximity to the Taranaki Trip and the fact that I hadn’t yet unpacked my tramping pack, this trip pretty much felt like a continuation of the Taranaki Trip.

Walk to Crosbie’s Hut

Taranaki Around the Mountain Circuit Trip Notes

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Pictures from Taranaki Around the Mountain Circuit have been posted to NUI.NZ

With Matt Davison, Nicole Scheid, Brody Radford and myself. Flew down from Auckland very early Saturday Morning and flew back up to Auckland on the ANZAC Tuesday

Mount Taranaki at Sunset as seen from Waiaua Gorge Hut

T’was a very tough going track, mainly due to the steep and sharp undulations. Oaonui Track was pretty rough and took a lot of energy to do.  Was pretty much drained out at the end of both day 2 and day 3 of the Walk. Continue reading “Taranaki Around the Mountain Circuit Trip Notes” →

Taranaki Around the Mountain Circuit Trip Notes

Swanson Pipeline Waitakere Dam loop Redux

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Did a rather short “reconditioning” hike in the morning (before heading off to afternoon family activities), photos posted to NUI.NZ (as per usual).

A small Unnamed / unidentified Waterfall (Requires bush bash to get to)

Route by pure chance ended up being almost exactly identical the Swanson Pipeline Waitakere Dam loop I did last year with the Auckland Hiking Group where the dam was perhaps more spectacular then with water going gushing down it. My own photos for that hike have been posted here.

Almost feel like combining the two albums.

 

Swanson Pipeline Waitakere Dam loop Redux